Girl, 12, killed in 5-vehicle crash

AMHERST — A 12-year-old girl was killed and a 2-year-old boy taken by LifeFlight after a box truck caused a five-vehicle crash on Ohio 2 on Wednesday.

The Elyria post of the state Highway Patrol is investigating the fatal crash, which involved 11-people and occurred at 2:29 p.m. on Ohio 2 in Lorain County’s Amherst Township.

A 2002 International 4300 box truck, a 2007 Jeep Liberty, and a 2012 Subaru Forester were eastbound on Ohio 2 in the right lane, when the box truck driver Robert S. Eckenrode, 48, of Canton, struck the Liberty from behind, pushing it into the Forester, troopers said.

The Forester was then pushed into a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado, which was eastbound in the left lane. A 2008 Grand Cherokee, also eastbound in the left lane, was struck by flying debris.

As a result of the crash, a 12-year-old girl inside was trapped inside the Liberty, which was driven by Melissa A. Turner, 41, of Lorain. The girl, who sat in the left-rear seat of the Jeep, had to be extricated from the vehicle by Amherst Fire Department, trooper said. She received incapacitating injuries and was flown to MetroHealth Cleveland by Metro LifeFlight, where she later died as a result of her injuries.

Turner’s right-rear passenger, a 2-year-old boy also had to be taken by LifeCareEMS to an awaiting Metro LifeFlight Helicopter, which then transported him to University Rainbows Hospital in Cleveland. The boy, who was strapped into in a front facing child seat, sustained unidentified incapacitating injuries, the report said.

Turner also received incapacitating injuries, and her front seat passenger, an 11-year-old boy, received non-incapacitating injuries. Both were transported from the scene by LifeCare EMS to University Elyria Hospital.

The driver of the Forester was identified as Mary Qui, 31, of Cleveland. Both she and her 17-year-old passenger were wearing safety belts and received no injuries.

William H. Smith, 44, of Vermilion, the driver of the Silverado, also was wearing his safety belt, troopers said. He received non-incapacitating injuries and was not transported form the scene.

The driver of the Grand Cherokee, Tracy M. Alexander, 49, of Sandusky, and her two passengers were all wearing their safety belts and received no injuries.